Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes remains optimistic of tying down Asmir Begovic to a new contract but admits he does not yet know whether the goalkeeper is interested in re-signing.

Speculation about the future of the Bosnia international, who is entering the final year of his current deal, began to increase when manager Mark Hughes left him out for three matches towards the end of the season.

Hughes insisted it was a pre-planned move but Begovic did not take it well and, having gone on international duty without sorting his future, Scholes accepts he is unlikely to find out what the 27-year-old's thoughts are until he returns for pre-season.

"In the same way as players you try to bring in, you don't know if the deal is done until it's in black and white," he told The Sentinel.

"You don't necessarily know if you're being told everything by the selling club or indeed by the player's agent.

"We would very much like him to extend his contract but I think Asmir has said it himself, he is keeping his options open and seeing what might be available for him.

"If I'm speaking frankly, I don't know who he might be speaking to. That's not accusing him of anything, it's just saying that's the reality.

"My hope is that he decides that we are the best option for him and that he extends his contract.

"He's away at the moment but we hope to sit down with Asmir and his representatives again in the near future and it would be nice if we could sort something out."